Santa Rita Hills Lavender Guest Blog
by Anna Maria Giambanco DiPietro
There’s just something about an open field of lavender that will stop you right in your tracks. Perhaps it’s the soft hum of honey bees going about their work; The silvery green foliage gently swaying in an afternoon breeze; The herbaceous, earthy scent, wafting through the air, asking you gently to pull over, park, and stay a while. That’s precisely what happened when I first came upon the Santa Rita Hills Lavender Farm.
Tucked away just off of route 246 in California’s Central Coast Wine Country, Tularosa Road winds its way up into one of the most charming nooks I’ve encountered in Santa Barbara County. Ensconced by the rolling Santa Rita Hills’ vineyards and pastures with their alluvial, calcium-rich soil, the lavender farm brings a slice of Provence to Santa Barbara County.
Known for its myriad healing effects, lavender is a member of the Lamiaceae or mint family. According to the New York Botanical Garden, the word “lavender” has its roots in the Latin “lavare,” which means “to wash.” There are 450 cultivars and 28 known species of lavender as I pen this. The plants here at the farm are Lavandula x intermedia 'Grosso' for essential oil, Lavandula x intermedia 'Provence', Lavandula angustifolia 'Folgate' and Lavandula angustifolia 'Royal Velvet' for culinary use and owner, Denise Neumann shares, “We planted over 3,000 lavender plants back in 2020 and will continue to add more California Native plants and pollinator habitats as we expand.”
The farm was founded by Denise and her son, Lucas in May of 2020; In addition to over 3,000 lavender plants, they grow a rainbow assortment of seasonal specialty cut flowers including poppies, ranunculus, freesia, sunflowers, dahlias to name a few. There are goats, cats, and dogs languidly roaming the fields, and upon entering the property, you may peruse an assortment of bespoke beauty products in a charming farm stand shop, fresh-cut flowers, and a smattering of charming home goods, curated by Denise.
On Saturday July 8, 2023, you may join the Neumann family for their inaugural Farm-to-Table Dinner, ‘Salute to the Region’ featuring top chefs from SY KITCHEN and NELLA paired with wine by Kathy Joseph of Fiddlehead Cellars and music by solo acoustic guitarist, Grady DiPietro. The set list will feature popular music and classic rock tunes infused with elegant classical Spanish guitar flair.
The event will take place al fresco among the flora and fauna where guests will enjoy fresh local cuisine and sip some of the most beautiful Pinot Noir and Grüner Veltliner that Kathy produces with “admiration for tradition and Old World style married with New World sensibilities.”
In celebrating the region and supporting the community, this event will salute Veggie Rescue, the only nonprofit in Santa Barbara County focused on rescuing fresh, perishable produce and delivering it to nonprofit organizations serving low-income families, seniors, and those facing housing insecurity. A portion of the proceeds from this event will support Veggie Rescue’s work to provide equitable access to nutritious food, which improves the mental and physical health of residents, while also having a positive environmental impact through the reduction of food waste.
Let’s celebrate the “lavender lifestyle” and raise a glass or two in a "salute to the region" for the return of flowers to the “city of arts and flowers”, as Lompoc, California, is known. Tickets are 300$ starting June 1st and include transportation from La Purisima Golf Course to the farm, an all inclusive dinner and dessert with wines, as well as an exclusive lavender swag bag.
If you’re planning to stay the weekend, Hotel Corque has discounted room rates for ‘Salute to the Region’ guests if your reservation is made prior to June 8, 2023. Please note that tickets are for guests aged 21 and up. Purchase tickets here, or give them a call at 805-395-6568.
